Pressing machine



Aug. 28, 1956 l. c. MAXWELL ETAL PRESSING MACHINE s Sheets-She et 1Filed Dec. 20, 1954 Aug. 28, 1956 l. c. MAXWELL ErAL 2,760,698

- PRESSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, l954 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmvroxs [RA C. MXWELL y OLE/iLA/VGEN HARoL 0 M //O/6VE Aug. 28, 1956 1. c. MAXWELL ETAL3,750,698

PRESSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 W I E E5 7 Z? :J FI a2 52 9595A 85 .94\

loo- 3 u T a. i l0 1o! 90 4 INVENTORS [RA C. MAXWELL y OLE/iLANGENHAROLD 14/1016 vs ATTORNEKS g- 28, 1956 I. c. MAXWELL ETAL 2,760,698

' PRESSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS fimCMAXWELL BY OLE/i LANGEN HAROLD 1/ 110/6 VE g- 8 1956 1. c. MAXWELL Em2,760,698

FRESSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, l954 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TORS IRA C.MAXWELL y OLE/1. LANGEN flARow 1 ho/svs ATTORNEY;

United States Patent PRESSING MACHINE Ira C. Maxwell, le H. Langen, andHarold V. Hoisve,

Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to The Unipress Company, Incorporated,Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Application December 20,1954, Serial No. 476,382 Claims. (Cl. 223-73) This invention relates topressing machines and more especially to pressing machines forsimultaneously pressing the sleeves of soft shirts such as sport shirtsand the like. Sport shirts are generally made of relatively softmaterials and are laundered and ironed, usually without any appreciableamount of starch. In this re spect they are unlike the ordinary mensshirt which is usually finished with some starch. It has been found thatsport shirts can be ironed very readily without the degree of pressureand without contact of an ironing surface against a padded buck, formost parts of the sport shirt. This invention pertains particularly to amachine for ironing sleeve portions of the sport shirt, which portionsare those parts of the sleeve between the cuff of the sleeve and theshoulder seam. The invention contemplates that the apparatus will beused in a sport shirt pressing arrangement wherein the cuffs and thecollar of the shirt are pressed in a separate operation, and the bosomof the sport shirt, as well as yoke, are likewise pressed in separateoperations, the instant invention being directed solely to means forproviding efficient, rapid and economical pressing of the sleeve portionof the sport shirt, between the cuff and the shoulder seam.

It is an object of the present invention to provide such a pressingmachine which may be manufactured at low cost and yet is eflicient inoperation and may be utilized by inexperienced help without previoustraining.

It is another object of the invention to provide an expansible mandrelironer for drying and ironing the sleeves of shirts, together withcooperative positive pressure means for simultaneously ironing theplackets of the sleeves.

A further object of the invention is to provide a relatively inexpensivepressing machine for the rapid and economical mandrel, drying andpressing of the sleeve portions of a sport shirt in combination withpositive pressure ironing means for ironing a selected portion of thegarment, such as the placket of the shirt.

Other and further objects of the invention are those inherent andapparent in the apparatus as described, illustrated and claimed.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, this inventionthen comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth indetail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these beingindicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which theprinciples of the invention may be employed.

The invention is illustrated with reference to the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of the complete apparatus of the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the apparatus of thepresent invention;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view illustrating certainportions of the operating mechanism;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view show- "ice ing thecover of the lower portion of the machine removed, and illustratingcertain of the parts in section;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on a somewhat enlargedscale taken along a line and in the direction of arrows 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating severalpositions of operation of the apparatus of the invention; and

Figure 7 is a schematic view of certain portions of the mechanicalapparatus of the press together with a diagrammatic showing of theelectrical and air circuits and the controls.

The pressing machine of the present invention consists generally of aframe 10 of generally rectangular horizontal plan having four cornerposts, of which posts 11, 12 and 13 are shown in Figure 1. The cornerposts are connected together by subframe members 14 at the bottom andare connected at the top by the top frame members 15. The top of thepressing machine has a generally horizontal rear portion at 16 and adownwardly slanting front portion at 18. In its completed embodiment,this frame is covered by side panels 19 at either side thereof and afront panel 20 as well as a rear panel. For convenience these are madeso that they may be easily removed for inspection and servicing of theequipment.

At the front portion of the frame there is provided a downwardly andforwardly slanting tabletop 21 which has an upturned, curved rearportion at 23 and a downwardly slanting front portion at 23. Thetabletop is finished with an attractive smooth white enamel finish or itmay be chromium plated if desired. The tabletop is carried by a subplateat 22 on frame member 15, the tabletop 21 and the subplate being cut outso as to provide several spaced parallel apertures therethrough of whichaperture 24 is illustrated in Figure 2. In alignment with each of theapertures there is provided an external cap, these being illustrated at25 and 26 in Figure 1. The caps 25 and 26 are castings, finished andpolished on the exterior and they form respectively bases of a pair ofmandrels generally designated 30L and 30R.

The mandrels 30L and 30R are of identical construction except for thefact that they have certain parts which are of right and left-handconstruction, notably the cuff island and the cuff clamp at the upperend of the mandrel. Accordingly, only one of the mandrels need .bedescribed in detail since it will illustrate the construction of bothmandrels.

Referring to Figure 2 particularly, the mandrel 33L there illustrated,includes a first portion generally designated 31, which is mountedfixedly upon the base 26, and a second portion 32, which is mounted soas to be capable of lateral movement away from portion 31 and alsocapable of slight rocking motion with reference to the portion 31,particularly as portion 32 is moved away from portion 31. Both of themandrel portions 31 and 32 are provided with steam packets, thus theportion 31 is provided with a steam jacket 33 and portion 32 is providedwith a steam jacket 34. A pipe connection 46 is provided at the base ofthe steam jacket 33 through which the condensate water is removed fromthat jacket. A smaller pipe 77 which enters through the larger pipe 46extends upwardly into the top of the steam jacket 33 so as to deliverthe steam at the position 33A, at the very uppermost part of the jacket.Similarly, the mandrel portion 32 has a condensate drain pipe 83 throughwhich a smaller steam line 103 enters and extends into the upper portion34A of that steam jacket.

The two mandrel portions 31 and 32, taken together, form a generallytapered shape and when they are brought closely together the exteriorwall of the two mandrel portions substantially meets along the line3S'3'6-37, which represents a slight space between the two mandrelportions when they are at their closest position adjacent each other.Stops may be provided as at 33 and 39 so as to maintain a slightclearance along. the

its outer edge asat 4142, the curve being more pro nounced at the lowerportion, and below the termination 42 the mandrel shape is indented asat44 and terminates at 45.

The mandrel portions 31 and32' are shaped with flanges at oppositesides, which cooperate to form the line --36-37 along each face of themandreLwhen the two portions of the mandrel are brought. towardeachother. When in this position there still remains an interior space47, which is closed at the top by the walll48-ofthe rear mandrel portion31. However, this space 47 is open at. the bottom and into it drying airis introduced for drying a sleeve on the mandrel, as willbe. described.in greater detail hereinafter, and this space also provides room for themounting of an operating lever for the mandrel portion 32, and withbattles 70, at various elevations for distributing the air flow.

At the upper end of the mandrel portion 31 there is a flat surface 49,upon which there is mounted a fixture St) which has generally flatopposite faces,. but which is smoothly rounded along its side edges andend as at 15253-54. Fixture 50 is hollow and is provided with a cuffclamp 55, which may be actuated manually by means of the control knob 56for lifting the clamp portion away from the adjacent face ofthe fixtureEll. The two edges of a cuff are placed under the. opposite ends of theclamp 55 when it is lifted away from the adjacent fiat face of fixture50, upon actuationofthe knob 56. When the knob is moved in the oppositedirection the clamp 55 will move toward the face of. the fixture 59 andhence hold the coil in place. The details of construction and operationof the cufff clamp canbe the same as in United States Patent No.2,687,241.

It will be noted that the width of the fixture 59 is. somewhat less thanthe overall dimension of. the mandrel, adjacent the surface 49. Theupper. portion. of the mandrel is smoothly curved over to meet. the-line4d, to correspond with the fullness of. a shirt sleeve generallyprovidedat the cuff seams of sport shirts and generally taken in as a slightgathering at the sleeve cufi. seam.

For each of the mandrels there. is provided an apparatus for feedingheated air under pressure into the interior space 47. Thus, there isprovided a framework. at 60, extending generally downwardly beneath themounting plate 22 and upon this framework there ismounted a heatexchanger at 61, to which, in turn, the exhaust duct- 62 of a blowergenerally designated 64, is fixedly attached. Above the heat exchanger61 there is a converging air conduit at 65 which continues as a tubularoutlet 66 extending upwardly into the lower portion of the space 47.When the blower is operated, air is drawn into the side port 64A of theblower and. is thence'forced through the heat exchanger in the directionof the arrow 68 and thence as shown by the arrow 69 into-the space 47.Within the space 47 there is a plurality of deflecting baffles 7d70,which are provided to' deflect the air flow towards the line space35-3637 at opposite faces of the interior space 47. The normal air flowis thus-into the interior space 47 from the blower-heat exchanger viapipe 66 and the air flow is then continued outwardly The. mandrelportion 32 has a generally curved line along.

all along the line space 353637, at opposite sides of the mandrel andaccordingly'provides drying air for assisting in the ironing and dryingaction of the shirt sleeve that is tightly drawn upon the mandrel duringthe ironing operation.

The mounting of mandrel portion 32 is by means of a lever 71 which ispivoted to the press framework at the pivot 72. The. lever has a.downwardly extending portion 73 which is pivotally connected at 74.tothc: clevise end of piston rod 75A of" the. cylinder-piston. assembly75, the cylinder 75B being pivotally connected at 76 to the machineframe. When air is introduced into the cylinder 75B, the piston 75A willbe pushed out and the lever 73- accordingly moved in the direction of''the arrow 78. At the upper-endof thelever 71 there is a pivot 7?connected to the bracket 80, situated within the interior space 47. Thebracket 80 is connected by cap screws 81 to the mandrel portion32hAccordingly; as the lever 73 is moved. counterclockwise. by operationof.the cylinder 75, the mand'relportion 32 Will likewise be moved. awayfrom the mandrel; portion. 31, or in the. direction of the arrow 82. It.will alsobe. noted that; as the mandrelportion 32 moves, away from theportio 31, the width off'the crack along the line 35.363.7. increasesand. the mandrel. portion 32. is thenprovided. additional clearancewhich permits-a rocking motion toa limited extent about its pivotalmounting 79.

Each of the. mandrels MFR and 30L is providedwith, an identicalconstruction andmounting, including a sep. arate cylinder for eachmandrel. The cylinders are. op-- erated in unison and hence theexpansion? and rocks.-

ing motions of each mandrel 30R and 30L incidental to tightening thesleeve during ironing,. take place. simul-- taneously.

In normal operation, therefore, shirt,. the cuffsand collar of whichhave. been. ironed, is arrangedsothattha sleeves can be drawn onto themandrelsv 30L and 30R, the cuffs being drawn about-the fixtures. 50; ofeachmandrel in such a way as to leave-the open. side' of the cult at theclamp 55, where it is held; Theopening of the cuff. and placket of onesleeve faces those of the other sleeve, and the plackets are. thereforeagainst thev adjacent. (or. inner) faces of the mandrels. The mandrel,as will..jsubsequently be explained,.is then actuated by. operationrof,air cylinders 75 and this; causes a simultaneousgeneral increase in thegirth of each mandrel, thereby stretching, the generally tubular fabricof the sleeve. tightly on the. mandreL. Any tipping or rocking.ofportions 32 ofcach, mandrel as may be required to accommodate. vanyingsleeve tapers,.takes place: asthe mandrel portions: 31 and 32. of eachmandrel move apart: At thezsametirne as. will. be explained,.h0t air isforced, up. into thespace. 47 of each mandrel and: the heated; airpassesout through. space 35-3.6.37,, and this: heated air, ,togetherwith..the' heat which is supplied bythe steam. jacketsr33. and 34hr themandrel portions 31and 32 of eachrmandrel, quickly effects a drying ofthe previously dampenedfabric, and .thesleeve is thereby ironedefficiently and quickly. There is: a separate. blower for each mandrel,but these aredriven by a common motor M as shown in F igure 4.

Sport shirts, in common with other shirts,.usuallyhave a placketextending from the-cuffa short distance along. the sleeve, so as tofacilitate opening of. the cuff when. it is unbuttoned. The placket isinvariably composeclof; several thicknesses of material and. in order topresent. a favorable appearance must be ironed under pressure, eventhough satisfactory ironing of; the remaining single layer fabricportions of the sleeve can be et'fectedon the: heated andpolishedmandrel as previously descnibedt. For the ironing of the placketportiononly'ofthe'shirt. sleeves;r While'simultaneously ironing thebalanceofithe shirt sleeve as described, there is provided-:the' followingrnechanisrnri.

Onthe interior of the main frame of the press there areprovided'rearwardly and downwardly extending frarne members'17-I7, upon"each of Wl1iCh.iS mounted a-bear- 5, ing 82, as shown in Figure 3.Bearings 82'82 pivotally support cross shaft 92. On the cross shaft 92there is fixedly mounted a second lever arm 84, having a rearwardly anddownwardly extending portion 85 at its lower end, to which the clevisedend 86 of the pistonrod 87 of the air cylinder 88 is attached, the lowerend of the cylinder being pivotally connected at 89 to a mounting 90 onan interior cross frame member 91. The cross shaft 92 has subsidiarylevers at 94 and 95 solidly attached thereto. To the lever 94 there isattached a retracting spring 96, the lower end of which is hooked to theeye 97 on the cross frame 91 and to a pin 94A on lever 94. The lever 95has a pivot pin 95A to which is pivotally connected the piston rod 98 ofa shock absorber 99, the lower end of which is carried by the rod 100extending through the upper flange of angle frame member 91. The rod 100is free to rock in an oversized hole in the flange of angle 91 and isheld in place by the resilient bumpers 101. When the cylinder 88 hascompressed air injected into it, the lever 94 will swing from theout-of-the-way position shown in Figure 2 to the full line (pressing)position, shown in full line in Figure 6.

The upper end of the second lever arm 84 is bent forwardly at 84A, andforms a mounting for a compound air cylinder-pistons arrangement shownbest in Figures 4 and 5. The cylinder generally designated 100A is heldin place by a clamping bracket 101-402, which is attached to the portion84A of the second lever arm by means of the bolts 104. The portion 102of the clamp extends upwardly at 102A and is provided with a cross rod105. The cylinder 101 is provided with two pistons 106 and 108, thepiston rods of which extend outwardly through the cylinder heads 109 and110 so as to form mountings for oppositely disposed presser heads 111and 112. The presser heads are each of a rounded wedge shape. Thus, thepresser head 111 shown in Figure has a lower rounded portion 111A andupwardly extending divergent front and back edges 111B and 111C, whichare smoothly curved into a top edge 111D. The presser heads are shapedso as to cover the placket area of the sleeves, that are sleeved ontothe mandrels 30L and 30R. Each presser head is equipped with a resilientpadding and covering. Within the cylinders, and bearing against thecylinder heads 109 and 110 respectively are springs 114 and 115, whichserve normally to retract the pistons and piston rods, and hence thepresser heads 111112 take the position shown in Figure 4. In order toprevent rotation of the pistons and the presser heads about the axis ofthe piston rods, each presser head is provided with an upstandingbracket as at 116 for the presser head 111 and 117 for the presser head112. These brackets are held in place by attachment screws and areslotted at the upper ends so as to fit around the cross rod 105. Theplacket presser heads 111112 are accordingly able to move back and forthfrom the non-pressing position as shown in Figure 4 to the pressingposition in which the presser heads are forced outwardly against theadjacent faces of the mandrels 30L and 30R respectively, but the presserheads are held from rotating. Movement of the presser heads occurswhenever air under pressure is injected into the cylinder space betweenthe pistons 106 and 108. The air line connection to the cylinder is at118, which is connected to the air line pipe 119, as shown in Figure 5.

Referring to Figure 7, there are diagrammatically illustrated certainportions of the mechanical structure of the pressing machine, togetherwith the electrical, air and steam circuits, and the various electricalcontrols and air controls. In Figure 7 the sleeve mandrels 30L and 30Kare shown side by side somewhat displaced for clarity of illustration.The upper end of the second lever arm 84A is shown broken away andturned 90 so as to allow better illustration of the cylinder 100 and thepresser heads 111 and 112.

Air is supplied at constant pressure at air supply pipe 120 leading to atwo-way-"valve 121 having an operating stem 122, a delivery pipe 124 andan exhaust 125. When the stem 122 is pushed down, air is admitted fromthe pipe 120 through the valve 121 to the pipe 124, the exhaust 125being meanwhile closed off. Whenever the stem 122 is released aninternal spring, not illustrated, moves the valve stem upwardly as shownin the figure,

and the line 120 is then shut off and line 124 is connected.

directly to the exhaust 125. Upon the pressing machine there is anoperator control consisting of a pivoted rocking plate having a Startsection 126 and a Release section 127. The two sections are part of thesame plate, which is pivoted at 128 to the machine frame. When theoperator pushes with her fingers on the Start section 126, the valve 121is actuated. Whenever finger pressure is released the rocking plateactuator 126-127 will centralize into a neutral position. When fingerpressure is applied to the Release section 127, this has the effect ofpushing down on the stem 130 of a normally closed electrical switch 131,so as to open an electrical circuit through its contacts 130A and 130B,which brings the press to the inactivated condition, as will bedescribed.

Therefore, when the operator desires to start the machine, fingerpressure is applied to the portion 126 of the rocking plate 126 127,thereby actuating the valve 121 as described, and admitting air underpressure to line 124, which extends to cylinder 88. Pressure in cylinder88 causes the piston rod. 87 to be pushed outwardly, causing the secondlever on up to 84 to swing in the direction of arrow 132 to a limitingposition corresponding to the full line position shown in Figure 6. Thepressing machine normally is in an inactive position shown in Figure 2,where it is held by the action of the spring 96, Figure 3. The operatingor shirt pressing position is shown in full line at Figure 6, and inthis position the presser heads 111 and 112 carried by lever arm 84, arebrought to a location such that when they are subsequently actuated theywill engage the adjacent plackets of the sleeves on the mandrels 30L and30R. However, this action does not take place immediately but byautomatic sequence as will now be described.

Upon the lower end of the second lever arm 84 there is an adjustmentscrew 134 so positioned that when the lever arm 84 is moved to thepressing position shown in Figure 6, by actuation of cylinder 88, thehead of the adjustment screw 134 will come into contact with theactuating stem 135 of a micro-switch 136. Electrical power from 110 voltA. C. line L1 is connected to terminal 137 to the micro-switch 136 andwhen the switch is actuated, as by pressure of the screw 134, thecircuit is closed to the line 138 whence it conditions to the terminal Lof an adjustable timer generally designated 140. Timer 140 is a standardarticle of merchandise and therefore will not be described except as toits mode of operation. The timer 140 is operated by a motor or otherdevice that normally does not run until electrical power is appliedacross its terminals N and L. The timing begins when the terminals N andL are energized. The time cycle may be adjusted by a dial control 141.Immediately upon energization of the timer the terminal LD becomesenergized at the potential of line L1 and any circuits connected to theterminal LD are thereby so energized. Ground (or neutral) is connectedto terminal N which is accordingly so energized. The timer 140 resets tothe zero position whenever the terminals N and L are deenergized, andthis occurs whenever switch 136 is opened and also occurs automaticallywhen the time cycle limit of the timer 140 has been reached, asdetermined by the timer adjustment 141. The circuit to LD, which isnormally open, is closed at the beginning 5 of the time cycleimmediately upon energization of the terminals N and L, and then remainsclosed by operation of the timer until termination of the time cycle,whereupon the timer circuit is de-energized and opens circuit LD. Atthis instant also the timer resets to zero.

J The terminal N isconnected through the circuit 142 to exac nessterminal 130A. of'the. normally closed switchs'ltsh and thence; tov lineL2 whichis neutral? (-or ground); Ac cordingly, aslongas switch 1313 is;closed, theitimenlxttl.

will become energizedwlienever the circuitzli is energized, and thisoccurs due to:the closure of the. micro-switch 136; wheneverthearm84YSWiDgSEtOtl1B pressing. posi* tion. timeri are connected. to.terminal: 12D; which: is the: controlled" circuit, and then baclc" toground, terminal; N..

Thus,.the"-lines144 and. 1d5 extend tothe terminals 146 and147 of asolenoid 148nvhicltt operates the air control valve 149i. The lines144alsoextendto the terminals of: the motorM; Accordingly; whenever the:time cycle starts; as. previously. described, the circuit M te-145 isenergized'and-the solenoid'148 and the motor M"are= likewise energized?and ibegin; performing; their intended functions;

Th'eenergization of the solenoid'143i serves to open the normally'closedair valve 149 andtia'dmitsipressure from theline 150 tothe line151,.whicli' extends throughthe junction 152.

which; operatingzinzparallel, serve toiexpand thepolished mandrels L and30R, as previously: describedl Air.

from junction 152 also eXtends-to the line 157 to-inlet 118 of thecylinder 100, causingithe'placket presser'heads- 111 and'112 tobe movedout to pressing position.

Thus, the complete cycleis as follows:v It'is'assumed that'the. operatorhas dressed the shirt sleeves-onto the polished pressingsmandrelswL and30R and has clamped the cuffs in place by means otithe clamp Theoperator then exerts-finger pressure on the portion 126. of

ing the polishedmandrels 39L andfiflRsoias to draw'the sleeves tightlyabout the mandrels. Substantially simultaneously air is admittedftothecylinder A, thereby causing the presserheads- 111' and 112.to. pushoutwardly against the plackets of" the shirt sleeves. At the same timethe motor M begins-tooperate and: heated air iscon ducted via the arrow68 into the interior spaces of the mandrels 39L and 36R and out through.the side cracks between the two portionsof eachrnandrel, therebyfassisning inthe drying of the shirt sleeves, which isalso en-' hanced by theheating of the mandrelsby the. steamsupplied tothe mandrel steamjackets, as previously explained. This all takes place very rapidly andthe operator may then release the control 126. The pressing continuesautomatically, the presser heads 11 1 and 112 meanwhile exertingpressure against the mandrels, sufiicient'to prevent any retraction ofthe arm 84.. Then asvthe timer reaches the limit of the time cycle,according to the adjustment of the control 141, the circuit LD-isde-energized and the timer'is reset to zero. When this occurs thesolenoid 148 is de-energized and the valve 149 automatically closes dueto the action of an internal spring, notillustrated. Air supply isdisconnected from theline 151, and through the operation of valve 149'isexhausted throughthe exhaustmufiler 160; The presser heads 111 and 112.are: then retracted by the internal springs withinzthe cylinder" 100 andthis releases them. from frictional. engagement with.

the shirt sleeves, and the arm 84". accordingly swings to swingingmotion being controlled by shock; absorber 9,9: The timer'hasmeanwhileresetto: zero.

If the operator desires to: stop: the. pressing-operation.

The work. loads; on the controlled: circuits of the From this junctionsubsidiary air circuits extend at 154,. and 1156: to: the two.=cylinders 75e75,'.

Q at;anyr point; his only necessary-to. exert" finger pressure upon; theRelease? portion 127 of; the. manual-contr0l-,. which therefore opens:the; normallyclosed switch 131i andxde-energizestliez timer '1403 Thenormallopening. se quence :thenzensuesa It is apparenttthat manymodifications and" variations.- ofzthis invention asthereinbeforesetforthcmay. be made withontdepartingi from the spirit and scope thereof;The specific: embodiments; described: are. given by. way. of 6Xample'tonly'and the: inventiorniszlirnited only. by the terms of theappended claimsi.

1t A sleeve;ironen'for' shirts. comprising: a frameand; elongated:externally. polished. sleeve: mandrel which: is shaped;asai.wlrolecsoiast to receive thereon that portion of; a-shirtsleevefrom.approximately the shoulder: seam to thecuffiseam,.said;mandtellbeingdivided longitudinally along; a meeting:lines so: ass to i provide. first and second longitudinally; extendingpzortionss which may be. moved laterally; apart; eachof; said; mandrelportions 1 having: an internal steam. jacket; and. shaped! so as toprovide an internal space between them which is accessible from thelower endwhentthetwo; portions are brought into edgewise: abutment the;first: longitudinally extending portion 1 being; fixedly:endemountedmnthe: framein anupright.

position soias to:provide atfreecupper'end,.said portion: being:provided. at its. upper. free; end; with a smoothly. rounded;fixturewhich: is shaped. and: positioned appropriately; to: receive a;shirt sleevecufii encircled thereon. when the balance of the. sleeve:isisleevedonto themandrel; aafirstlever pivotedonthe frame in aposition so=as rtorhavex an -.uprighti portioniextending into said intcrnalispacebetweenthefirst and: second longitudinally extending .mandrelportions; a;pivotalt connection between said firsta'leven and the:second. mandreLportion mounting it forrlateraltand; slight rocking.movement, whereby when the lever: is: oscillated: the second mandrelportion will. be. translated; laterally to.= increase: the overallfgirthof themandrel; and permitted. to rock. as needed for? stretchingtightly. a.shirt:sleeve.-.placedlthereon, means on. the frame.pivotally. connected to. the. first .lever 'for moving :itand-the secondportion. of; the sleeve: mandrel. mounted: thereon in atdirection to;stretch a1sleeve placed on said mandrel, and means. connectingztheframe. and the first lever. for, normallyl movingsaid lever in. theopposite. direction, a second; lever. mounted. on theframe. forswinging. move.- rnenttrom' antoutaofvthe way position to at workingposition in proximity; to: the. upper; free end. of. the mandreL. saidsecond leverihavingzmounted thereonia padded press.- ing buck-,mcansonthe frame. and: connected; to said. sec.- ond lever: forswinging--saidsecondleverinto a position aachthat said padded buckwillbe alongside a-placket of a shirt sleevewhen said sleeve is in properposition on saidmand'rel', means on second lever for moving said.paddedbncka'gainst the mandrel when in such-position and biasing meansconnected. to said second lever fornormallymoving it to' saidout-of-the-way position,

2. The. sleeve ironer of claim 1 further characterized in that thereare-provideda'pairof said mandrels mounted in a generally uprightposition on saidframe for receiving the two sleeves-of agarmentsimultaneously: and saidsecond lever is pivotally connected tosaid frame for swinging movement fromsaid out-of-the-way position tosaid Working position between said mandrels,.and saidsecond lever isprovided with two padded bucks movablein opposite. directions.againstthe mandrels. betweenwhich saidf bucks arepositionedin saidworking position.

3:. The sleeveironer; of claim 2 further; characterized in. that meansis: provided; for normally retracting. said pair of. padded: bucks to aposition out of engagement withsaid mandrel's respectively, and a singleair cylinder means is provided? for simultaneously. moving said: bucksto their working positions in engagement with adjacent faces ofrsaidmandrels;

4. The sleeve ironer of claim 1 further characterized in thatoperator-controlled means is provided for controlling movement of saidsecond lever from its out-ofthe-way position to its working position andresponsive means is provided, under control of the movement of saidsecond lever, for operating said first lever and for moving said paddedbuck to its working position.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further characterized in that saidresponsive means includes timer means for first initiating movement ofsaid second lever to its working position and movement of said paddedbuck int-o engagement with said mandrel and, after a time period haselapsed, for moving said padded buck out of engagement with said mandreland moving said second lever to its out-of-the-way position.

6. The sleeve ironer of claim 1 further characterized in that saidapparatus includes drying means for providing a forced draft of heatedair, said means being connected to the mandrel for delivering heated airinto said interior space and for movement therethrough and thencebetween the first and second portions of said mandrel when they aremoved apart.

7. A sleeve ironer for sport shirts comprising a frame having a tabletopat working level, a pair of mandrels mounted in generally parallelrelation extending upwardly from said table, said mandrels being ofexternally polished material and shaped as a whole so as to receivethereon those portions of the sleeves of a sport shirt extendingapproximately from the shoulder seams to the cufis thereof, having across section of generally flattened oval shape and each being dividedlongitudinally along a meeting line extending from one side near thecuff and thence downwardly longitudinally of the mandrel along a meetingline of each, so as to provide first and second mandrel portions each ofwhich contains means for heating it and is shaped so as to provide aninternal space between said portions when they are brought into abutmentto form the complete mandrel, the first portion of each mandrel beingfixedly mounted on the frame and the second portion of each mandrelmounted for movement laterally, and rocking movement with reference tothe first mandrel portion, a lever pivotally mounted on the frame andextending upwardly through the table and into the internal space of eachmandrel, the upper end of the lever of each mandrel being connected tothe second portion of said mandrel, pneumatic motor means connected tothe frame and to the lever of each mandrel for moving said levers from aposition in which said first and second portions of the mandrels areadjacent to each other and then to a position in which said portions aremounted laterally apart, means for normally biasing said levers to aposition in which said mandrel portions are closely adjacent to eachother, separate lever means mounted on the frame and having a portionextending above said tabletop, said separate lever means being mountedand shaped for swinging movement from an out-of-the-way position to aworking position in which a portion of said lever is moved generallybetween the upper portions of said mandrels, pneumatic means for movingsaid separate lever from its out-of-the-way position to its workingposition and means for normally retracting said separate lever to itsout-Of-the-Way position, a pneumatic cylinder having pistons thereinmounted on said separate lever and padded bucks mounted on said pistonsin a position to be urged apart when said pistons arc actuated and intoengagement with adjacent faces of the upper portions of said mandrels,automatic means for moving said separate lever from its out-of-the-wayposition to its working position, for moving the first and secondportions of each mandrel laterally apart for tensioning sleeves thereonand for then actuating said pneumatic cylinder, and pistons therein formoving said padded bucks against the mandrels and, after a timeinterval, for reversing said operations.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in thatoperator-control means is provided for initiating actuation of saidautomatic means and additional means under control of the operator forinitiating said reverse operations.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that means isprovided on the frame and connected to said mandrels for delivering acurrent of heated air into the internal space of each, said means beingconnected to said automatic means so as to be actuated when saidautomatic means causes actuation of said separate lever and otheroperations sequentially.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that the first andsecond portions of each mandrel are each provided with a steam jacketfor heating the same and said steam jackets of each mandrel areconnected in series circuit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,278,959 Williams Apr. 7, 1942 2,687,241 Maxwell et al. Aug. 24, 1954

